Philosophy & Approach

School Philosophy

From the Director:

Our goal is to prepare children for a lifetime of learning. Fundamental academic skills are developed in an environment where curiosity and imagination are nurtured. Learning to be a happy member of a community is as important as academic achievement. We focus on the Golden Rule in our relationships with each other. Our time in class is evenly split between structured and open choice activities.
Our unique program has been developed over 14 years, and embraces elements of Montessori and Reggio-Emilia and Waldorf, among others. Learning is hands on, creative, attentive to the natural world, with a strong storytelling component.

Quality of Teaching

Individualized Teaching: From the Director

Children have individual goals that may be academic or behavioral. They measure their success on a goal chart, and choose a "reward" when they've achieved their goal.

Day in the Life

General School Mission

"Little Sprouts is a unique little learning center where our commitment to energetic and creative teaching ensures that your children are "having fun growing smart""
Excerpted from the preschool's website

A Typical Day

"12:15 *Arrival* Teachers meet the students in the driveway, accompany them to class, and help them get settled in. Table work is available while waiting for everyone to arrive.
12:20 *Meeting* Everyone sits together while new activities, letters and themes are introduced. We say the Peace Poem, the "calendar kid" leads us in singing the days of the week song and we are given a weather report. Songs and finger play are a regular part of the meeting. Everyone signs up for the work center where they'd like to begin. This reinforces name spelling and writing, and helps kids take responsibility for the organization of our class.
12:40 *Workplaces* Kids go to their chosen centers. They may change locations as long as there is space in the next center they select - everyone understands how many students can participate in each center.
1:20 *Clean Up* We take about 4 minutes to transition to cleanup with warnings at 4, 3, 2, and 1 minute. During the course of the class, children are encouraged to put away toys and work they are done with before beginning new activities.
1:25 *Sharing* Students tell about items they've brought and ask for questions from listeners. Guidelines are provided for parents to help children select rich sharing materials; artwork, things from the families' cultures, things found in nature, etc.
1:35 *Group Time* Teacher's Choice: a game, a craft, music, dance, a project we all work on together.
2:05 *Quiet Work* Five minutes of table work - an opportunity to concentrate on an independent task. Maybe writing in your notebook, on a
wipe off board, doing a puzzle, coloring.
2:10 *Hand Washing* With twelve children sharing two hand wash stations, there are lots of lessons here in taking turns, sharing, and being a good neighbor!
2:15 *Snack* Everyone enjoys a light snack together, served by an assigned snack helper.
2:30 *Story Time* Stories are told or read, usually on one of the themes of the week.
2:40 *Outdoor Time* ? Outdoors we choose from climbing toys, riding toys, sand box, balls, play house, and music makers. About 75% of
outdoor time is "free choice" with the remainder of the activities teacher led.
3:00 *Adios* Parents meet children in the play yard or classroom, depending on weather.
"
Excerpted from the preschool's website

Home-School Connection

Home-School Connection: From the Director

We maintain a yahoo group for family communication. We have two student led conferences each year. And there is always time to chat when parents pick up their children during the last few minutes of each class while the children are playing outside.

Parents Say They are Encouraged to:

Hold social events at the school to build community

Are required to make donations ourselves

Are able to visit the school anytime we want

Go on field trips

Volunteer in the classroom

Receive newsletters

Modes of Communication

Notes

Phone Calls

Voice Mail

Email

Special Meetings

Two or More Regular Conferences

Drop-Off

Pick-Up

Regular newsletter/printed updates circulated to the whole school

Separation

Separation is Handled through:

Pre-entry meetings with parents at school

Handling Separation: From the Director

Children meet with parents and teachers before the first day of school. We also have an orientation day to take care of "paperwork" and housekeeping issues in advance so that the first day of school feels like a normal school day.
Parents talk to their children to prepare them for what to expect. Children look at pictures from the web site to anticipate what they can look forward to at school.
Experience has shown that parents' attendance on the first day is not helpful if a child is anxious.
If a child is anxious or crying on the first day, we comfort them with words or hugs or redirect to fun activities. The rule is that if the child doesn't settle in comfortably within 15 minutes, we call the parent to decide what to do next.

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